Node device for relaying streaming content and method using the same

Abstract

A streaming content relaying apparatus and a method using the same are provided. The streaming content relaying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention inspects content characteristics and a network state from content provided from a streaming server, selects one of a unicast transmission scheme and a multicast transmission scheme in accordance with the inspection result, and provides the content streaming services to the user terminal using the selected transmission scheme.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A streaming content relaying method of a node device for relaying content of streaming services provided to a user terminal through a streaming server, comprising:
 s inspecting content characteristics and a network state from content provided from the streaming server, selecting one of a unicast transmission scheme and a multicast transmission scheme in accordance with the inspection result and providing the content streaming services to the user terminal using the selected transmission scheme.   
     
     
         2 . The streaming content relaying method according to  claim 1 , wherein the providing of the content streaming services comprises:
 inspecting whether there is redundant transmission of content to the user terminal through the streaming server, and inspecting whether content caching and copying are possible when there is redundant transmission, and   inspecting whether multicast conversion of the content is possible when the content caching and copying are possible, multicast-transmitting the content to the user terminal when the multicast conversion is possible, and unicast-transmitting the content to the user terminal when the multicast conversion is impossible.   
     
     
         3 . The streaming content relaying method according to  claim 2 , before the inspecting whether the redundant transmission is performed, further comprising:
 selecting the streaming server based on load balancing when receiving a streaming request signal from the user terminal;   transmitting the streaming request signal to the selected streaming server; and   relaying the content of the streaming services between the user terminal and the streaming server.   
     
     
         4 . The streaming content relaying method according to  claim 2 , wherein the inspecting whether the multicast conversion is possible comprises:
 selecting a main streaming server to provide the content to the user terminal when the multicast conversion is possible, and setting a multicast channel between the node device and the user terminal;   multicast-converting content provided through the main streaming server, and multicast- transmitting the multicast-converted content to the user terminal; and   requesting streaming service interruption from another streaming server different from the main streaming server.   
     
     
         5 . The streaming content relaying method according to  claim 2 , wherein the inspecting whether the multicast conversion is possible comprises:
 selecting a main streaming server to provide the content to the user terminal when the multicast conversion is impossible, caching and unicast-copying content provided through the selected main streaming server, and unicast-transmitting the cached and unicast-copied content to the user terminal; and   requesting streaming service interruption from another streaming server different from the main streaming server.   
     
     
         6 . A node device, comprising:
 a server connection unit that selects a streaming server based on load balancing when receiving a content streaming request signal from a user terminal, transmits the content streaming request signal to the selected streaming server, and relays streaming content between the user terminal and the streaming server;   a content caching and unicast transmission unit that inspects whether there is redundant transmission of content to the user terminal, performs content caching and copying when there is redundant transmission, and unicast-transmits the content of the redundant transmission to the user terminal; and   a multicast conversion unit that inspects whether multicast conversion of the cached and copied content is possible, and multicast-transmits the content to the user terminal when the multicast conversion is possible.   
     
     
         7 . The node device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the server connection unit selects a main streaming server to provide the content to the user terminal when the multicast conversion is impossible and requests streaming service interruption from another streaming server different from the main streaming server, and   the content caching and unicast transmission unit caches and unicast-copies content provided through the main streaming server, and unicast-transmits the cached and unicast-copied content to the user terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The node device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the server connection unit selects a main streaming server to provide the content to the user terminal when the multicast conversion is possible, sets a multicast channel between the node device and the user terminal, and requests streaming service interruption from another streaming server different from the main streaming server, and   the multicast conversion unit multicast-converts content provided through the main streaming server and multicast-transmits the multicast-converted content to the user terminal.   
     
     
         9 . The node device according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an address conversion and packet filtering unit that performs IP address conversion so that the content streaming request signal of the user terminal is transmitted to the selected streaming server, and filters packets received from the selected streaming server.